Allentown Man Charged In Thefts At Six Stores Police

An Allentown man was arrested Thursday at Jamesway in Whitehall Township and charged with a string of retail thefts, mostly involving cigarettes, police said.

Jose Carlos Young, 33, 1765 S. Idaho St., was arraigned before District Justice Edward Pressmann and committed to Lehigh County prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.

He was charged with three retail thefts in Whitehall Township, including the Jamesway incident, where he allegedly tried to steal 10 cartons of cigarettes valued at $87.20. The other Whitehall incidents also involved cigarettes and allegedly occurred at Zimmmerman's Market, 1049 MacArthur Road, on Jan. 9, and at Clover in the Whitehall Mall on Jan. 26, police said.

Young was also charged with two retail thefts in South Whitehall township and one in Walnutport. According to police, Young was cited on each occasion but he failed to appear at hearings before district justices and also did not pay fines. This prompted all three police departments to put out warrants for his arrest.

According to police, Young was cited on each occasion but he failed to appear at hearings before district justices and did not pay fines. This prompted all three police departments to put out warrants for his arrest.

"The investigation is ongoing," said Det. Randy Heffelfinger of the Whitehall Police Department.